Kukri Sports Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament quarter-final Moortown St Malachy’s (Tyrone) 2-13 Donaghmoyne Fontenoys (Monaghan) 3-8
THE Moortown history trail continues as the Tyrone champions reached the semi-finals of the Kukri Sports Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament semi-final with an edgy 2-13 to 3-8 victory over Donaghmoyne at a wet St Paul’s in Belfast yesterday.
A steady drizzle of rain fell throughout the game that was still played at a fast pace and with both teams displaying some really good play that was entertaining throughout.
It was a pity, however, that not only the rain but an unfortunate incident in the closing seconds put a dampener on the game.
Donaghmoyne’s Ronan McDonald was red-carded by Down referee Gavin Finnegan for giving abuse to an umpire, as the Farney fellows pressed for a winner.
Both sides used the passing game throughout with only direct football played by Donaghmoyne in the closing stages. That didn’t take from the entertainment factor as the spirit and determination of the players was the hallmark of the game that kept spectators on their toes right to the end.
Donaghmoyne looked the stronger team in the opening stages, although the scores were level three times during the first 15 minutes.
James Devlin got Moortown off to a flier with a point after 12 seconds but the accurate free-taking of Cormac O’Connor helped the losers into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead before Jamie Devlin and Conan McLernon balanced the scales. Aaron Courtney and McLernon exchanged further points before Moortown rifled over three unanswered scores to lead 0-7 to 0-4.
Michael Donnelly brought off an excellent save on the Moortown line but entering the half-hour mark half-back James Finnegan was hauled down in the Moortown parallelogram.
Cormac O’Connor’s spot kick was blocked out by Donnelly, who seemed to be well off his line, but O’Connor blasted the ball home from the rebound, at an angle, to level the argument again.
There was still time for another Moortown attack and midfield man James Devlin made full use of it to loft over a point from outfield and give his side a 0-8 to 1-4 interval lead.
An early blitz at the start of the second half was really the winners’ launch pad to ultimate victory. Inside two minutes, from the 33rd, Moortown hit 1-2.
Chris McGuigan, who mastered midfield alongside James Devlin, hit the net from close range and, almost immediately, Jamie Devlin and man-of-the-match Jack McGuigan floated over points to open a six-point gap.
Donaghmoyne regrouped right away and inside two minutes from the 36th hit a goal and two points to be just two adrift.
O’Connor, with a pointed 45, ignited the comeback, and, after a goaling chance from close range was missed, Jack McGuigan rocketed the ball home after a defence-splitting attack. Sean Conway added the other point.
The battle was now set for a hectic finish and that was the outcome. Aaron Courtney and McLernon exchanged points before, in the 50th minute, industrious Jack McGuigan netted Moortown’s second goal, followed by a point from McLernon.
The Monaghan champions still weren’t finished with Stephen Finnegan rattling the Moortown net and Niall Keenan pointing but, despite huge pressure, the Moortown defence stood solid. Indeed, the winners’ full-back line was excellent under the dropping ball and in cutting out raids.
“We are delighted to have got over the line. The lads all grafted hard but full praise to Donaghmoyne.
They played hard, too, but, thankfully, it was our day. We go ahead now and prepare for the semi-final next weekend. That’s two years in-a-row we have reached the semis,” enthused Moortown manager Paul Devlin.
Moortown: M Donnelly; E Quinn, T Corr, T Hurl; C Gallagher, R McLernon, R McGuigan; James Devlin (0-3), J McGuigan (1-1); Jamie Devlin (0-1), S Conway, J McGuigan (1-3); C McLernon (0-5, 2f), E McGuigan, R Conlon
Donaghmoyne: D Callan; R Mohan, S Kelly, D Cunningham; J Finnegan, R McDonald, O Martin; S Garland, N Keenan (0-1); J McSkeane, S Finnegan (1-1), A Courtney (1-1); C O’Connor (1-5, 2f, one ‘45’), D Garland, J McCaghey; Subs: L Murnaghan & J Waters for J Finnegan & J McCaghey (48), M Donnelly for McSheane (57) Referee: G Finnegan (An Riocht)
